Arbiter Short neck Bass - Any info available?

[MereKat]

I have this sitting in a wardrobe, it's been there for years and due to the room needing a clear out, i found it! The only identifying mark is 'Arbiter', no model, serial or any other markings. The only info i can find is that Arbiter were an importer, and that it was possibly late 60s/early 70s? I've used it a couple of times, and from what i remember it sounded pretty good! Fairly deep tone compared to my Squire, but i just couldn't get used to it!

The only one i can find is currently on eBay, in pretty good condition for £325, with no real information about it. That seems to be a bit far from its actual value, but i'll see...not decided on throwing, selling of refurbishing it yet...

Pictures below...can anyone tell me anything about it!?

[philw]

My first bass was something very similar, bought second-hand from ABC Music in Addlestone in, probably, 1978.

Arbiter (named after iconic founder Ivor Arbiter) was a huge player in the 1950s/1960s/1970s beginnings of the UK music retail industry. Ivor was the first (I think) UK Fender distributor. Actually, think of him as a UK version of Leo Fender (except Arbiter's original speciality was drums) and you won't go far wrong. I met him a few time in the late 80s while I was working for a pro-audio PR company that had the Arbiter account. Boy, did he have some stories (not that I can remember any of them now).

There's loads of info on t'web about Arbiter the company and Ivor the man, but this isn't a bad place to start: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ivor-arbiter-314771.html

Phil

[NancyJohnson]

Blimey...long time since I've seen one of those. My first bass was one of these, but in creamy off white. I borrowed £30.00 from my dad to buy it.
P